Airport Authority Hires Dennis Probst as New Vice President of Development

Thursday, November 30, 2017

SAN DIEGO – November 30, 2017 – Dennis Probst has been hired as Vice President of Development for the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. He starts December 4.

Probst comes to the Airport Authority from the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) in Minnesota, where he was Chief Operating Officer. The MAC owns and operates the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and six smaller general aviation airports within the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area.

Probst takes over for Jeffrey Woodson, who is retiring after serving as a vice president at the Airport Authority for 15 years.

“We are excited to welcome Dennis to the Airport Authority, where he will play a pivotal role in the future development of San Diego International Airport,” said Kim Becker, the Airport Authority’s President/CEO.

Two initial goals will be to shepherd to completion the international arrivals hall and the Terminal 2 Parking Plaza, both currently under construction. Probst will also help oversee the continuing refinement of the Airport Development Plan, which envisions the replacement of Terminal 1, in addition to other improvements.

Probst started at the MAC in 1997 as a building construction manager. At that time, the organization was kicking off the $3.2 billion MSP 2010: Building a Better Airport development program. Projects Dennis oversaw during his years at the MAC include:

Dennis also worked to create the $2.5 billion 2030 Long Term Comprehensive Plan and many post-2010 improvements, including efforts to construct a new 5,000-space parking ramp at Terminal 1, development of an airport hotel, creation of the MAC’s first formal sustainability plan, and the largest structural solar energy generation system in Minnesota, atop parking ramps at both MSP terminals.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport served 37.5 million passengers in 2016.

At San Diego International Airport, Probst will oversee three departments: Planning & Environmental Affairs, Airport Design and Construction, and Facilities Development.

Woodson was hired in 2002 as one of the original executives for the newly formed Airport Authority, which began operation in 2003. He was instrumental in developing the plan that separated the Airport Authority from the Port District.

Woodson played key roles in many of the largest development projects in the Airport Authority’s short history, including the $900 million expansion of Terminal 2, which became the world’s first LEED Platinum commercial airport terminal; and also the $316 million consolidated Rental Car Center. At the time of his retirement, he was overseeing $1.6 billion in construction activity through the airport’s Capital Improvement Program, Terminal 2 Parking Plaza and new international arrivals facility.

“In so many ways, Jeffrey left his stamp on the airport,” Becker said. “We will miss him, and we wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement.”